Patent GB-235484-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for casting stereotype plates
IPC: B41D3/08
Filed: 1925-01-02
Abstract: 235,484. Hart, H., (Duplex Printing Press Co.). Jan. 2, 1925. Stereotype, casting. Stereotype casting-apparatus, especially adapted for casting tubular plates, comprises a turntable carrying a number of casting-boxes, a pump for supplying molten metal to any of the boxes when in casting-position, means for imparting a partial rotation to the turntable in order to move the boxes successively into and out of casting- position, manually-controlled means for setting the turntable in motion, and automatic means for stopping the turntable when a box has been moved into casting-position. As shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus is provided with four casting-boxes 1 of usual construction, spaced equally around a turntable 2 which is rotatably mounted on an annular casting 13a, Fig. 5, on a base 13. The turntable is provided with a gear engaged by a worm 3b on a shaft 3 to which is splined a friction clutch-member 3<a>, Fig. 3 , adapted to engage a second clutch-members 4<a>, attached to or integral with a gear-wheel 4 rotatably mounted on the shaft 3. The gear-wheel 4 engages a gear-wheel 6<a> on a shaft 6 which is continuously driven from a motor 6b. The hub of the clutch member 3<a> is engaged by the forked end 5e of a lever 5, Fig. 2, pivoted on a bracket on the base 13 and normally held in position to disengage the clutch-members by a spring 58. The lever 5 is connected by a link 5<f> to a pivoted handle 5<g>. The other end of the lever 5 carries a roller 5<c> which engages the periphery of the turn table and, under the influence of the spring 5
 is forced into one of a number of recesses 2<c> in the table, the number of recess being equal to the number of casting- boxes. Movement of the handle 5<g> results in the roller 5<c> being moved out of the recess 2<c>, and the engagement of the clutch-members 3<a>, 4<a>, so that the table is rotated until the roller is forced into the next recess by the spring 58 when the clutch-members are disengaged. Metal :s supplied to the casting-boxes from a melting- not 10 mounted on the base 13 adjacent to the boxes. The pot is provided with a pump 11 connected by a spout 12 with the box, which is in casting-position. The pump actuating-rod 11<a> is formed with a rack engaged by a gear-wheel 11<c> on a shaft 11<a> which may be rotated by hand, but is preferably provided with a sprocketwheel over which passes a chain 11<f> connected at one end to a weight 11<g>, and at the other end to a crank-pin 7<a> on a worm-wheel 7. The worm-wheel 7 is engaged by a worm 8<a>, Fig. 3, on a shaft 8 mounted directly over the shaft 6. A friction clutch-member 8b is splined to the shaft 8 and is adapted to engage a second clutchmember 9<b> attached to a gear-wheel 9 rotatably mounted on the shaft 8 and driven by a gearwheel 6e on the shaft 6. The hub of the clutchmember 8b is engaged by a forked lever 18 pivoted on a pin 18<a> on which is also pivoted a lever 28 carrying at one end a roller 28<a> pressed by a spring 28<b> into engagement with a cam 17 fixed to the wheel 7. The lever 28 carries an upwardly-projecting arm 28<e> lying alongside the deflected end 18<b> of the lever 18, the end 18b being acted on by a spring tending to oscillate the lever to bring the clutch-members 8<b>, 9<b> together. The other end of the lever 28 is connected by a link 29 to one arm of a bell-crank lever 30 pivoted on a stationary support and connected by a link 31 to a second bell-crank lever 22, the outer end of which carries a roller lying alongside the table 2. The table carries cam-members 2<n> arranged in conjunction with the casting-boxes and adapted to engage the lever 32 just before the table comes to rest after each partial rotation. Movement of the lever 32 removes the roller 28<a> from the notch 17<a> in the cam 17 and throws the clutch 8<b>, 9<b> into operation to rotate the wheel 7 and effect operation of the pump and delivery of the correct amount of metal to the box in casting-position. The best part of the motion of the wheel effects the reof the pump for the next operation. At the completion of one revolution of the wheel 7, the roller 28a is forced by the spring 28b into the notch 17<a> to permit the clutch members to be disengaged. The link 31 is preferably detachably connected to the lever 32 to enable automatic operation of the pump to be prevented, in which case the operation is started by depression of a pedal 30<a> connected to the lever 30. The position of the pin 7<a> is adjustable to vary the throw of the pump-piston. Water for cooling the casting-boxes enters through a pipe 50, Figs. 2 and 5, which is connected by a swiveljoint 51, inside a standard 2‹ on the turntable 2, to a T-joint 52 and radial pipes 53 provided with branch pipes 54 connected to two adjacent boxes. The hot water escapes through branch pipes 64 and radial pipes 63 connected by a T-joint 62 and a swivel joint 61 with a pipe 60 passing down through the turntable.